Daqian Martial Saint

After parting ways with Yan Wu, Chen Ping’an and Chen Erya returned to the Weishui Inner City. The little girl had Peony to keep her company, so Chen Ping’an didn’t chat much. He returned to his room and resumed his Circulations.

With two Divine Skills in his possession, the amount of Cultivation Experience he needed to accumulate was astronomical. Therefore, he needed to cultivate tirelessly.

Only Cultivation could build a solid foundation on the path to becoming a powerhouse!

However, Chen Ping’an’s Cultivation didn’t last long. Midway through his practice, he slowly opened his eyes. He had sensed an incredibly familiar aura outside his door.

CREAK!

The door opened, revealing a beautiful, elegant woman.

Seeing Chen Ping’an emerge, the woman’s expression showed a hint of surprise. She hadn’t intended to disturb his Cultivation but hadn’t expected him to come out just from her approaching the door.

”Ping...” The woman hesitated for a moment before calling out, ”Lord Chen.”

Seeing the visitor, Chen Ping’an smiled. ”Lord Mu!”

The visitor was none other than the direct heiress of the Mu Family, Mu Wanjun.

Hearing Chen Ping’an address her this way, Mu Wanjun’s pretty face changed slightly.

”I’m unworthy of that title, my lord. You do this subordinate too much honor.”

”Wan Jun, you were the one who first recognized my potential. There’s no need for such formality between us,” Chen Ping’an said with a gentle smile.

Back when Chen Ping’an’s status was still low, Mu Wanjun had told him that when they were together, he could just call her by her name. At first, Chen Ping’an had always called her ”Lord Mu,” for which she had often teased him.

Now that their circumstances had reversed, he never expected that the one using the formal title of ”Lord” would be Mu Wanjun herself.

”Sister Mu, since my brother is out now, I’ll be going~”

Chen Erya said with a grin, standing to the side.

She was the one who had just brought Mu Wanjun over; otherwise, as a guest, Mu Wanjun would naturally not have come this far into the residence.

Mu Wanjun looked at Chen Erya and said with a smile, ”Thank you, Erya.”

She had come to pay a visit and, upon hearing that Chen Ping’an was in Cultivation, had planned to leave immediately. But then a rosy-cheeked young girl, who didn’t look very old, had come out from inside and welcomed her in.

After a brief chat, she learned the girl was Chen Ping’an’s sister—this was the first time she had met her. While waiting in the main hall, she exchanged a few words with the little girl and found herself growing more and more astonished. The little girl possessed a way of thinking and a level of awareness completely beyond her years.

’Chen Ping’an is brilliantly talented. As expected, his sister is no ordinary person either!’

Chen Erya didn’t disturb the two of them any further and left with a smile.

”Wan Jun, I went to Nanquan Lane today to look for you at the South Town Garrison Command, but they said you weren’t there. I didn’t expect you to come here directly,” Chen Ping’an said.

Mu Wanjun hadn’t expected Chen Ping’an to have looked for her. She stated frankly that she had been at her family’s estate for the past few days, not on duty at the South Town Garrison Command.

The two hadn’t seen each other for some time, so there was a bit of awkwardness at first, but they quickly warmed up. Chen Ping’an invited Mu Wanjun into the main hall, and they began to chat with a smile.

After they had exchanged a few words, Mu Wanjun didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated the purpose of her visit.

She was here on behalf of the Mu Family to recruit Chen Ping’an. The bargaining chips and resources were his for the asking, and she even outlined several proposals. The terms of these proposals were exceptionally generous, nearly matching the compensation offered to an ordinary Absolute Master. From an outsider’s perspective, it was a display of utmost sincerity.

However, Chen Ping’an’s reaction to these terms, which would be incredibly tempting to an ordinary person, was lukewarm. Given his current Realm, he naturally didn’t think much of such offers.

He currently had no intention of attaching himself to any Noble Family.

Regarding Mu Wanjun’s recruitment attempt, Chen Ping’an didn’t mince words and directly expressed his thoughts.

Mu Wanjun accepted his decision. In truth, she had already anticipated this outcome before she came.

’If only back then...’

Looking at Chen Ping’an’s face, Mu Wanjun couldn’t help but entertain a wistful thought.

Unfortunately, there’s no medicine for regret in this world.

The recruitment had failed. Mu Wanjun adjusted her mood slightly, and a smile reappeared on her face.

In any case, the fact that Chen Ping’an had reached his current status and still remembered her early faith in him was the greatest comfort and satisfaction for her.

Besides trying to recruit Chen Ping’an, Mu Wanjun had another purpose for this visit: to show goodwill and, on behalf of the Mu Family, establish a positive connection.

Therefore, she had also brought a great deal of information with her this time.

Now that Chen Ping’an held the position of Outer Patrol Envoy of the Long’an Trade Route, and with the route about to open, the burden on his shoulders would likely be heavy. Under these circumstances, having more intelligence would naturally be a great advantage. With the support of information, he could see the big picture, take appropriate action at the right time, and have a basis for making decisions on particularly difficult matters.

”Ping’an, the three major towns along the Long’an Trade Route...”

Mu Wanjun began to share the intelligence she had brought, some of which overlapped with what Yan Wu had told him—such as which Absolute Masters were stationed there and what their Cultivation Levels were.

However, on these overlapping points, the details Mu Wanjun provided were much more thorough. For example, the affiliations of these masters, which powers they were on good terms with, which they had poor relations with, and the intricate web of conflicting interests and power plays behind them.

Chen Ping’an listened and benefited greatly.

With the trade route about to open, he, as an Outer Patrol Envoy, might have to deal with these powers and masters. It was certainly good to know more specific intelligence.

”Ping’an, although you’re responsible for the outer patrol, Beicang Town is the closest to your area. Matters concerning the trade route there might involve you as well. If it involves Beicang Town, you need to be careful with everything. There are too many Absolute Masters there, and each has their own temper. If you accidentally offend one, it will be detrimental to you later on!”

”Also, a lot has happened in the County City recently. But everyone’s attention has been on the trade route and the Rising Star Chart, so these other things have been overlooked. For instance, one of the Fang Family’s Profound Light Clan Elders, Fang Qixian, has mysteriously disappeared. Rumor has it he died outside the city, but no one knows what really happened!”

Fang Qixian?

’They’re only just discovering he’s been dead for so long?’

’It seems my cleanup work was pretty good!’

Chen Ping’an thought this to himself, but on his face, he wore a look of confusion as he looked at Mu Wanjun.

”Ping’an, you may not know this person, but if I mention his child’s name, you probably will,” Mu Wanjun said with a smile. ”He had a son in his old age named Fang Rui.”

”Fang Rui! It was him!” Chen Ping’an feigned a slight shock, acting as if he was recalling past events.

”Yes, Fang Rui. Back then, he...” As she spoke, Mu Wanjun’s heart suddenly jolted. At that moment, an idea inexplicably formed in her mind.

’Fang Rui! Fang Qixian! These two...’

’One after the other, both dead!’

’The time of Fang Rui’s death was right when Chen Ping’an left the city. And the time of Fang Qixian’s death, if one were to make a reasonable deduction, would be right around...’

’The time when Chen Ping’an returned to Weishui County City!’

’Wait!’

’How could the timing be such a coincidence?’

’And...’

Mu Wanjun’s heart pounded. She didn’t dare to think about it any further.

She looked up and her gaze met Chen Ping’an’s. He was wearing a gentle smile, looking at her with a curious expression.

”What’s wrong, Wan Jun? Why did you stop talking?”